People affected with polydactyly have 6 or more fingers and/or toes. It starts in the womb. As the hand starts to split, extra splits are made causing there to be more then five fingers. It can be in the form of anything from a stub to a full, functioning finger.
Different types of polydactyly are: Radial Polydactyly is on the thumb side of the hand. Central Polydactyly is in the middle of the hand. Ulnar Polydactyly is on the little finger side of the hand.
Inheritance:
It can be inherited from generation to generation (called isolated) but sometimes getting it has nothing to do with genetics.Though, it can be part of a worse genetic disorder (called syndromic). It is a dominant trait so if one parent has it the child has a 50% chance of getting it. Also, it is autosomal, therefore, males and females have an equal chance of getting it. Though, the specific gene is not yet known. African Americans can get a sixth finger but it often isn't because of a genetic disorder.
Symptoms:
The person would have extra fingers or toes. To know if it's a genetic disorder, there would have to be other generations with polydactyly.
Ulnar Polydactyly
Treatment:
The extra finger(s) can be removed by surgery at birth if it is developed enough. There are different forms of the disease. Some surgeries are more complicated then others depending on how the hand is effected. After surgery, a bandage will need to be worn on the hand for weeks or months. A hand therapist may also be needed to to help any complications after surgery. Sometimes another surgery is needed later in the child's life. The earlier the surgery is done in life, the better it is later in life.
Central Poyldactyly
Some people choose not to have surgery. It does not harm the person at all physically but it can be eye-catching.
Polydactyly
What it is:
People affected with polydactyly have 6 or more fingers and/or toes. It starts in the womb. As the hand starts to split, extra splits are made causing there to be more then five fingers. It can be in the form of anything from a stub to a full, functioning finger.Different types of polydactyly are:
Radial Polydactyly is on the thumb side of the hand.
Central Polydactyly is in the middle of the hand.
Ulnar Polydactyly is on the little finger side of the hand.
Inheritance:
It can be inherited from generation to generation (called isolated) but sometimes getting it has nothing to do with genetics.Though, it can be part of a worse genetic disorder (called syndromic). It is a dominant trait so if one parent has it the child has a 50% chance of getting it. Also, it is autosomal, therefore, males and females have an equal chance of getting it. Though, the specific gene is not yet known. African Americans can get a sixth finger but it often isn't because of a genetic disorder.Symptoms:
The person would have extra fingers or toes. To know if it's a genetic disorder, there would have to be other generations with polydactyly.Treatment:
The extra finger(s) can be removed by surgery at birth if it is developed enough. There are different forms of the disease. Some surgeries are more complicated then others depending on how the hand is effected. After surgery, a bandage will need to be worn on the hand for weeks or months. A hand therapist may also be needed to to help any complications after surgery. Sometimes another surgery is needed later in the child's life. The earlier the surgery is done in life, the better it is later in life.Some people choose not to have surgery. It does not harm the person at all physically but it can be eye-catching.
Incidence:
1 out of every 1,000 births.Works Cited:
Polydactyly (Extra Fingers). American Society for Surgery of the Hand. 12 April 2010. http://www.eatonhand.com/hw/hw024.htm .Polydactyly Overview. 2 November 2009. University of Maryland Medical Center. 13 April 2010. http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/003176.htm .
What is Polydactyly. Wise Geek. 14 April 2010. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-polydactyly.htm .